4260 Policy – Use of School Facilities

Bellingham Public School facilities are provided by the public and should be made available to the community for uses when practical and such use does not conflict with the operations of the district. District-sponsored activities, including curricular and co-curricular functions, retain first priority in use of facilities. Authorization for use of school facilities will not be considered as endorsement or approval of the activity, group or organization. All rentals are considered occasional use.

The public will be expected to reimburse the district for such use to ensure that funds intended for education are not used for other purposes. The superintendent is authorized to establish procedures for use of school facilities, including rental rates, supervisory requirements, restrictions, and security; and the superintendent may authorize exceptions to these procedures.

All users of district facilities must accept financial responsibility for any damage and must comply with the policy and procedure. Those using school facilities shall provide evidence of insurance for accidents and liability covering persons using the district鈥檚 facilities.

The district does not discriminate based on race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability and provides equal access to Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

Community athletics programs that use district facilities will not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex in the operation, conduct or administration of their programs. The district will provide copies of the district鈥檚 nondiscrimination policy to all third parties using district facilities upon request.

Additionally, youth organizations engaged in sports activities and using school facilities must provide a statement of compliance with the policies for the management of concussion, head injury and sudden cardiac arrest in youth sports as required by RCW 28A.600.

A. Rental Group Categories

For rental rate purposes, organizations seeking the use of school facilities have been divided into five categories:

      1. District, School and Affiliated Groups

District, school, and affiliated groups includes activities conducted by school athletic teams, staff committees, professional development of district staff, PTA, booster clubs, ASB and similar groups.

a. Adult sponsorship and supervision are required.

b. Generally, there is no facility use fee for these groups other than when the district incurs extra utility, custodial, or supervision costs due to use or impact during and outside of regular school hours.

      1. Non-Profit Youth Centric Groups

Non-profit youth centric group use includes activities conducted by those organizations whose main purpose is to promote the welfare of students. Youth groups include Scouts, Campfire, 4-H and similar groups.

a. Adult sponsorship and supervision are required.

b. All non-profit organizations in this category shall submit their IRS Determination Letter at the time of application.

c. Facility use fees apply for these groups. Separate fees for space, utilities, custodial or supervision will be charged based on the current facility use fee schedule and costs incurred by the district due to use or impact during and outside of regular school hours.

      1. Youth Sports Groups

Sports groups or individuals comprised of Pre-school-12th grade aged youth that do not align with another user group.

a. Facility use fees apply for these groups. Separate fees for space, utilities, custodial or supervision will be charged based on the current facility use fee schedule and costs incurred by the district due to use or impact during and outside of regular school hours.

      1. Non-Profit Groups, Individual Community Members, Informal Groups, Religious Groups, Public Colleges, Universities and Government Agencies
        Non-profit groups, individual community members, informal groups, religious groups, public colleges, universities and government agencies may use school facilities for lectures, promotional activities, rallies, entertainment, courses, religious meetings or other similar activities.

a. All non-profit organizations in this category shall submit their IRS Determination Letter at the time of application.

b. Facility use fees apply for these groups. Separate fees for space, utilities, custodial or supervision will be charged based on the current facility use fee schedule and costs incurred by the district due to use or impact during and outside of regular school hours.

      1. Commercial Enterprises

District facilities are available for use by commercial enterprises including for profit organizations and business-related enterprises at the discretion of the district.

a. Commercial is defined as any individual, group, business or event that charges a monetary admission or fee, that solicits funds, sells food, tickets, or other goods in exchange for money.

b. Fair market facility use, utility, custodial and supervision fees apply based on the fee schedule and costs incurred by the district due to use or impact during and outside of regular school hours.

 

B. Use of District Kitchen and Cafeteria Facilities

District kitchen and cafeteria facilities are available for use by all rental groups with the exclusion of use as a commissary kitchen.

Compliance with food safety standards are important to the health and safety of students, staff and the community. Rules for food safety and sanitation will be in compliance with all Washington State Food Service Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Health as well as all local requirements as determined by the Whatcom County Health and Human Services Department.

The district will develop necessary food safety and sanitation standards to comply with health regulation requirements. Standards are established to protect the health and safety of staff, students and community members. The superintendent or designee will ensure that each school administrators/supervisors monitor the operation of kitchen facility to comply with state and local food safety and health regulations and requirements.

C. Use of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

鈥淓lectric vehicle鈥 means any vehicle that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from an off-board source, that is stored on-board for motive purpose.

鈥淓lectric vehicle charging station鈥 means a parking space that is served by battery charging equipment that is district owned and publicly available that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle charging stations may be used by any member of the public, including district employees and students, subject to the payment of applicable charges and any posted limitations on hours of operation and length of time a vehicle may be parked in a parking space.

Fee for Use and Signage

Vehicles parked in electric vehicle parking spaces must be connected to the charging equipment and in the process of charging. Electric vehicle parking spaces will be indicated by signage identifying the space as a publicly available electric vehicle charging station and indicating that it is only for electric vehicle charging.

A per session fee for charging station use shall be established by the district by periodic resolution and posted on the charging station interface. The signage will disclose all rates associated with a charging session at the point of sale and prior to a user initiating a charging session.

District owned vehicles will have first priority usage of charging stations and will not be charged for usage of district owned electric vehicle charging stations.

Supplementary signage may be posted at the point of sale to provide additional information including, but not limited to, hours of operation, any limitations on the length of time a vehicle may be connected to the charging equipment.

The district retains the right to remove vehicles in publicly available parking spaces during school and operating hours that conflict with the operations of the district.

Adopted/Revised: 11/19/94; 12/10/09; 06/13/12; 04/13/15; 07/06/16; 04/12/19; 02/19/20; 09/14/23
Updated: 08/15/24
Superintendent or Board Approved: Board Approved
Cross References: Content
 

Policy 3422 Student Sports 鈥 Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Policy 3210/3210P Nondiscrimination

Policy 4217/4217P Effective Communication

Policy 6112 Rental or Lease of District Real Property


Legal References: Content
 

RCW 28A.230.180 聽聽聽 Access to campus and student information directories by official recruiting representatives 鈥 Informing students of educational and career opportunities.

RCW 28A.335.170聽聽聽聽 Contracts to lease building space and portable buildings, rent or have maintained security systems, computers, and other equipment, and provide pupil transportation services

RCW 4.24.660 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs

RCW聽聽 28A.320.510 聽 Night schools, summer schools, meetings, use of facilities

RCW 28A.335.150 聽聽聽 Permitting use and rental of playgrounds, athletic fields, or athletic facilities

RCW 28A.335.155 聽聽聽 Use of buildings for youth programs 鈥 Limited immunity

20 USC Sec. 7905 聽聽聽聽聽 Boys Scout of America Equal Access Act

34 CFR Sec. 108.6 聽聽聽聽 Equal Access to Public School Facilities For The Boy Scouts of America and Other Designated Youth Groups

AGO 1973 No. 26,聽聽聽聽聽 Initiative No. 276 – School districts 鈥 Use of school facilities for presentation of programs 鈥 Legislature 鈥 Elections


Management Resources: Content
 

2014 鈥 February Issue

2013 鈥 July Issue

2013 鈥 June Issue

2011 鈥 December Issue

2009 鈥 August Issue